About

Van Anh Ho is a distinguished robotics researcher whose work spans tactile sensing, soft robotics, and human-robot interaction. Best known for pioneering large-scale vision-based tactile sensing systems, Ho has tackled one of robotics' most persistent challenges: equipping robots with meaningful touch perception. His 2020 paper on large-scale tactile sensing for robot links (110 citations) and its 2023 follow-up on simulation and learning frameworks (62 citations) represent landmark contributions toward safe, contact-aware robotic skin deployable across entire robot bodies rather than just fingertips. Ho's work equally advances bio-inspired soft robotics. His eel-inspired swimming robot (78 citations) and sea-anemone-inspired bistable gripper (42 citations) demonstrate a consistent philosophy of drawing from nature to solve complex mechanical and sensory challenges. Earlier foundational work on soft tactile fingertips and fabric-based flexible sensors laid important groundwork for wearable and humanoid robotic skin. Throughout his career, Ho has bridged fundamental sensing science with practical applications, from texture discrimination and object manipulation to contact lens handling, showcasing remarkable breadth. With over 500 cumulative citations across his most influential papers, his research has meaningfully shaped how robots perceive, interact with, and safely operate alongside humans and their environments.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

18
H-Index
61
Papers
1,043
Total Citations
17
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
Large-Scale Vision-Based Tactile Sensing for Robot Links: Design, Modeling, and Evaluation
110 citations · 2020
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2021 (10 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 84
🏛 Institutions: Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Ritsumeikan University, Ryukoku University, Japan Science and Technology Agency

Top Papers

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Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 33 days ago